The servant placed the dish with the little cucumbers on the table and picked out the stead buns from the food box, setting them on a plate, followed by attendants bustling like a flowing stream to prepare the breakfast.
"Have you eaten yet?" Shen Liu lifted his head to ask. Perhaps due to the pleasant mood upon rising in the morning, his expression and the aura around him were unusually soft.
Hearing Shen Liu’s question, Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi exchanged glances. Of course, they had not eaten breakfast yet. Once they left from here, Manman planned to return ho to eat, while Wu Lang and Xiao Qi intended to find sothing casual to eat in the town before heading straight to their private school.
"Then you haven’t eaten." Shen Liu said, "Co, sit down and eat together."
A trace of surprise flickered across Steward Zhong’s face, but it faded in an instant. The servant by the side arranged chairs for the three of them, took out three sets of bowls and chopsticks, and asked them to sit down for the al.
Lian Manman knew that at such tis, it was customary to decline. However, upon reflection, what sort of person was Shen Liu, and what was his temper like? Was he the kind of person who would make polite conversation with them?
Of course not.
So, since Shen Liu had spoken, they might as well eat together.
"Then, thank you very much, Sixth Master." Manman agreed cheerfully and walked over to sit down next to Shen Qian.
Shen Liu glanced at Manman, a glimr of amusent in his eyes. Shen Qian was even more delighted and pushed the porridge that the servant had served him towards Manman.
"Manman, eat this. It’s my favorite, fish maw porridge."
"Hmm." Manman nodded.
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi were sowhat surprised, but they too soon ca over and sat down at the edge of the table.
The Shen family’s breakfast was very sumptuous, with four types of porridge and an assortnt of pastries and small dishes filling the table.
Shen Liu and Shen Jiu, without prior agreent, both tried the stead buns that Manman had brought. The buns from the snack shop had undergone several improvents and tasted even better than before. The soup-filled buns made especially for Shen Liu and Shen Qian were prepared with even greater care. The snow-white and fluffy bun skin, coupled with the carefully selected filling, burst with flavor at the gentlest bite.
"Delicious." Shen Qian took a bite and nodded his approval. "Manman, the buns you make are really tasty."
"What’s this?" Shen Liu ate a bun but did not comnt on it; instead, he pointed at the dish of pickled cucumbers and asked Manman.
"That’s little cucumbers pickled in soybean paste." Manman inford Shen Liu.
"Hmm, very nice." Shen Liu remarked.
In grand families, there are many rules, and they also pay attention to the ways of healthy living. They maintained a fixed schedule for daily routines; stricter even than average households. For example, a child Shen Qian’s age had to rise early every day, either to study or to practice swordsmanship. They were even less likely to sleep in than children from ordinary families.
One should not speak while eating or lying down; this too was a rule.
After those two sentences, Shen Liu remained silent. Even Shen Qian, who had initially recomnded a few of his favorite snacks to Manman, stopped talking.
The Lian Family also had strict dining rules. Thanks to these rules, no matter what kind of banquet or setting, Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi could always avoid any criticism. Of course, Manman strongly disliked the Lian Family’s distribution system.
Once the al was over, Shen Liu took them to the side hall to sit and drink tea. He was busy, and soon after, four or five groups of people ca in to report on matters.
Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi got up to take their leave.
"I will be returning to Prefecture City shortly, you all... haven’t forgotten anything, have you? There isn’t anything you need to say?" Shen Liu raised his eyes and asked Manman.
What was Shen Liu expecting them to say, to rember?
"No," Lian Manman pondered for a mont, then replied.
"Really no?" Shen Liu pressed on.
"Really no," Lian Manman asserted confidently.
Shen Liu seed sowhat disappointed, but in the eyes that looked toward Lian Manman, there was an added sense of inquisitiveness.
"Sixth Master, since you’ve asked this, then let ask as well. You haven’t forgotten what you promised us, have you?" Lian Manman queried.
"Of course not, you can speak your mind now," Shen Liu said, narrowing his eyes.
"We’re doing quite well. I was just asking, just to confirm," Lian Manman said with a smile. If possible, she hoped that condition would sit there untouched forever, never having to be called upon—that would be the best outco.
"Oh," Shen Liu uttered aningfully.
"If Sixth Master has no other matters, then we’ll take our leave," Lian Manman said.
"Hmm, my younger brother Shen Jiu has sothing to ask you," Shen Liu said.
Lian Manman turned to face Shen Qian.
Shen Qian’s chubby face was flushed red, looking a bit nervous but also sowhat excited.
"Go ahead, Xiao Jiu," Shen Liu said.
"...Manman, co back to Prefecture City with ," Shen Qian’s narrow eyes were especially spirited at that mont.
"Ah?"
"I an, you, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi, as well as your parents, your elder sister, your family’s Little Yellow Ox, little pigs, little chickens and so on, can all co back with . You can continue running the shop, farming, and live in our house, so we can always play together," Shen Qian explained, hopefully gazing at Lian Manman.
Lian Manman looked at Shen Qian, then glanced at Shen Liu. Shen Liu was leisurely sipping his tea, his expression serene and indifferent, but Lian Manman could tell that he found the matter quite amusing.
"That... thank you very much, but we’re quite content living here and can’t bear to move elsewhere," Lian Manman felt a bit awkward internally.
Shen Qian hung his head.
"...You’re welco to visit us whenever you have ti, and we, when we have ti, will also go see you," Lian Manman hastily added.
"Manman, will you really co back to Prefecture City to see ?" Shen Qian lifted his head and asked Lian Manman.
"Yes, I will," Lian Manman replied with the utmost sincerity.
"Alright then," Shen Qian still seed a bit downcast but appeared to accept the outco. He took a brocaded pouch from the servant, "Manman, this is for you to play with."
"This, this is..." Lian Manman looked at the object in Shen Qian’s arms, her eyes widening with delight.
***...****
Here’s one more update, seeking pink. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to co to Qidian (qidian) to vote for it, give it a monthly ticket, and your support is my greatest motivation.)
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